Mesut Ozil is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and can also be deployed as a winger. He recently joined Turkish giant Fenerbahce from Arsenal FC in England after several years with the North London club. He is a fan's favourite because of his technical skills, creativity and eyes for passes.
The 2014 World Cup winner had 92 appearances and 23 goals for the German national team, but he left the side after a poor outing at the 2018 world cup no thanks to discriminative act he encountered after taking a picture with Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The former Arsenal creative expert was left out of the squad list in the Premier League 25-man squad and also the Europa league squad for 2020/21 season by the coach Mikel Arteta who sighted football reasons for his decision, making former record signing last game for the Gunners be the match against West Ham United in March 2020.
He was criticize on many occasions because he is always a shade of himself in big games.
His problem begins when he commented on the bad treatment meted out to the Uyghur Muslims in China, but the Arsenal board failed to support him due to Television coverage on the Gunners in China.
And after he was frozen out of the team, he also failed to take a pay cut due to the COVID-19 effect on sports and he questioned the board on the decision.
The team felt his absence due to their lack of creativity and goals drought at some point before the emergence of Emile Smith-Rowe who Ozil himself tagged the "difference maker" in the team.
After 7 years of loyal service to the North London faithful, Ozil's 350,000 pounds contract was terminated, he earned 5 million pounds to go free with 6 months remaining on his contract.
He was pivotal in the squad that end the Gunners trophy drought in 2013 by lifting the FA Cup. Overall, he won 3 English FA Cups and 3 Community Shields, a UEFA Europa League runner-up in 2018/19 and made 254 appearances with 77 assists and 44 goals contributions to the Emirates outfit.
The 32-year old has now join his boyhood club Fenerbahce and the world awaits what this uncelebrated playmaker of this century will add to Fenerbahce title chase this season. He made his debut on Tuesday night playing the last 18 minutes of a 2-1 triumph over Hatayspor in the Super Lig.
Will Arsenal regret the leaving of Ozil in future?
Fabiyi Ridwan
Sports Writer and Analyst
